Different efforts have been made by policymakers, government, and non-government entities to reduce and mitigate the impact of drought in most rural parts of Ethiopia. Therefore, this review intends to assess and analyze the gaps that need to be addressed in the design and implementation of drought adaptation and mitigation social policies. Thus, by employing systematic review methods, the review process maps the thematic focus of this study through scoping review techniques to identify, collate, and systematically synthesize, discuss, and analyze existing literature. The findings reveal that the continued recurrent occurrence of drought involves a wide range of integrated factors and has significant impacts on the economic, social, and environmental well-being of rural communities. This results in severe vulnerability of rural people to the effects of recurrent drought, which is mainly caused by multiple factors and, in turn, affects nearly 80% of the agricultural-based livelihood systems of rural populations, including crop losses, reduced crop yields, and livestock production. This situation is closely associated with the ineffectiveness of national drought adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies that have been implemented over the last few decades under national social protection schemes. However, the broad nature and interconnectedness of El-Niño-induced drought require coordinated efforts among public and private sectors to ensure the effectiveness of policies at the ground level. Indeed, this review study aims to bring new insights and to offer directive input and recommendations for policymakers, development practitioners, and future researchers in formulating community-driven adaptive strategies and providing evidence to strengthen drought response mechanisms in rural communities.
| Published in | Advances (Volume 7, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12 |
| Page(s) | 8-23 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Climate Induced Drought, Ethiopia, Policy Gaps, Social Impact, Rural Community
| [1] | Alderman, H., Hoddinott, J., & Kinsey, B. (2006). Long Term Consequences of Early Childhood Malnutrition. Oxford Economic Papers, 58(3), 450–474. |
| [2] | Amsalu Sena. (2019). Review on the Cause and Effects of Recurrent Drought on Ethiopian Agriculture Productivity. International Journal of Horticulture, Agriculture and Food science (IJHAF), Vol-3, pages 292-298, 1. |
| [3] | Bayissa, A., Moges, S., Xuan, Y., Van Andel, S., Maskey, S., Solomatine, D., Van Griendven, A and Tadelle, T. (2015). Spatio-temporal assessment of meteorological drought under the influence of varying record length: The case of upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. |
| [4] | Blaikie, P. (2014). At Risk: Natural Hazards, People’s Vulnerability and Disasters. Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames. ISBN9780415252164. |
| [5] | Brian C. Thiede. (2023). Climate Variability and Internal Migration to Urban and Rural Areas: Evidence from Global Microdata. |
| [6] | Cressman, K. (2008). The use of new technologies in desert locust early warning. Outlooks on Pest Management, 19(2), 55–59. |
| [7] | CSA. (2014). Central statistical agency of Ethiopia, Agricultural sample survey. |
| [8] | David, T., David, D., and Palminder, S. (2003). Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. Birtish Journal of management. Vol. 14, 207 - 222 (2003). |
| [9] | Degefu, W. (1987). Some aspects of meteorological drought in Ethiopia. In M. H. Glantz (Ed.), Drought and hunger in Africa: Denying famine a future (pp. 23–36). Cambridge University Press. |
| [10] | Demeke A. B., Keil, A., Zeller, M. (2011). Using panal data to estimate the effect of rainfall shocks on smallholders food security and vulnerablity in rural Ethiopia. Climate Change. Vol 108. no. 1-2, pp, 185 - 206. |
| [11] | Dercon, S., Hoddinott, J., and Woldehanna, T. (2005). Shocks and consumption in 15 Ethiopian villages 1999 - 2004. Journal of African economics vol. 14. no 4, pp. 559 - 585. |
| [12] | Dercon, S. (2004) ‘Growth and Shocks: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia’, Journal of Development Economics 74 (2): 309-329. |
| [13] | Dominick, D., Abigail, L., Abay, E., Jamie, C., Andrew, C., Abigail, F., Kelly, G., Carlos, Dobler., Patrick, F., David, M., Christopher, S. (2025). Climate Risk Assessment Ethiopia. Woodwell Climate Research Center. woodwellclimate.org. |
| [14] | Dracup; wilhte; and Glantz. (1980), (Meteorological), (Hydrological), (Agricultural) Drought. |
| [15] | FAO. (2021). Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nation Reducing vulnerability to weather shocks through social protection Evidence from the implementation of Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in Ethiopia. |
| [16] | FDRE. (2011) Green Economy Strategy. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy. |
| [17] | FDRE. (2016). Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Labour and Social Affair; National Social Protection Strategy of Ethiopia. |
| [18] | Geberehiwot, T., Vander, V., and Maathuis. B. (2011). Spatial and temporal assessment of drought in the northern highland of Ethiopia. |
| [19] | GFDRR. (2011). The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction, and Recovery Report. |
| [20] | Getachew, A. (2018). Drought and its impact in Ethiopia. |
| [21] | Getachew. M, Jaya. P, Millica. S, and Rogert. S. (2024). The phenomena of drought in Ethiopia: Historical evolution and climate force. |
| [22] | Gray, C, Mueller, V. (2012). Drought and Population Mobility in Rural Ethiopia. |
| [23] | Hajarian, A. (2025). Meteorological Drought Risk Monitoring and Zoning Using Random Forest Model (Case Study: Ardabil Province). Journal of Drought and Climate change Research (JDCR), 3(9), 83-94. |
| [24] | James, V. (2007) Drought Mapping, Assessment and Monitoring -2nd Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, New Delhi. |
| [25] | Jesson, J., Matheson, L. and Lacey, F. Doing Your Literature Review: Traditional and Systematic Techniques. 2011. Sage, London. |
| [26] | Knippenberg, Erwin, Hoddinott, J. (2017). 'Shocks, social protection, and resilience: Evidence from Ethiopia', ESSP Working Paper. Addis Ababa Ethiopia: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI). |
| [27] | Kumar, B. G. (2008). Ethiopian famines 1973–1985: A case-study. In: The Political Economy of Hunger: Volume 2: Famine Prevention, pp. 173–216. |
| [28] | McCarthy, J. J. (2001). Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. New York, USA: Cambridge University Press. |
| [29] | Matthew J., Joanne, E., Patrick, M., Tammy, C. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021; 372: n71. |
| [30] | Minister of Agriculture. (2019). Ethiopia Country Programming paper to end drought emergency in the Horn of Africa. |
| [31] | Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED). (2010). Growth and Transformation Plan. |
| [32] | NAPA. (2007). Ethiopia National Programme of Action, Official documents. |
| [33] | Neville, D. (2018). Drought Resilience, Adaptation and Management Policy (DRAMP) Framework. |
| [34] | NDMC. (2015). National Drought Mitigation Center, 2015/3310, Types of drought impact. |
| [35] | Noyes J, Booth A, Moore G, Flemming K, Tunçalp O, Shakibazadeh E. (2019). Synthesising quantitative and qualitative evidence to inform guidelines on complex interventions: Clarifying the purposes, designs and outlining some methods. BMJ Glob Health. 2019; 4(Supplement 1): e000893. |
| [36] | Petticrew, M. (2001). Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions. BMJ (Clinical research ed), 322 (7278). pp. 98-101. ISSN 0959-8138 |
| [37] | Rebecca, H., Nicola, J., Fouzia, M., Rosana, V., Yisak, T., and Tassew, W. (2010). Addressing gendered risks and vulnerabilities through social protection: examples of good practice from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Peru. |
| [38] | Tadesse Shimeles. (2024). Critical Review of the "Drought Monitoring Map for Ethiopia": Strategic Insights for Enhancing Drought Management Framework. |
| [39] | Terefe, H. (2025). Drought Risk Management in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review. Journal of energy, enviromental, and chemical engineering. Vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-11. |
| [40] | Stefan, D. (2005). Vulnerability and Shocks in 15 Ethiopian Villages, 1999-2004. |
| [41] | Ruth, R. V., and Porter. C (2017). Vulnerability to Drought and Food Price Shocks: Evidence from Ethiopia. |
| [42] | UNECA, (1993): United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (1993). Relationship between Population and Environment with Particular Reference to Mortality in Selected ECA Member States. United Nations-Department of Technical Cooperation for Development (1990). Workshop in Population and Development, Uganda 11-15 October 1988, Proceedings and Recommendations. |
| [43] | United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (2013); High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP) CICG, Geneva 11-15 March 2013 Science Document: Best Practices on National Drought Management Policy. |
| [44] | UN-OCHA. (2023). Ethiopia ES/NFI Cluster partners presence map for drought affected area. |
| [45] | Tagel Gebrehiwot and Anne van der Veen. (2013); Assessing the Evidence of Climate Variability in the Northern Part of Ethiopia. |
| [46] | Wilhite D. A and M. H Glantz. (1985). ‘’understanding the drought phenomena; the role definition ‘’water international’’ (10): 111-120. |
| [47] | Wolde-Georgis, T. (1997). Climate change and drought early warning in Ethiopia. Internet Journal of African Studies 2 (2), 10. |
| [48] | World Bank report, (2024) Trends of drought occurrence and its impact across multiple regions since 1964 - 2024. |
| [49] | World Bank Group. (2025). Moving away from humanitarian appeals to managing drought in Ethiopia. |
| [50] | Zinna. A and Surabhagavan. K. (2016). Remote senseing and GIS based spectro-agrometeorological maize yield forecast model for south Tigray, Ethiopia. |
| [51] | Zhang, Y., Duan, J., Jian, Z. (2022) A daily drought index based on evapotranspiration and its application in regional drought analyses. P317-336. sci. CHINA sci., 65(2). |
| [52] | Zougmore, R., Partey, S., Ouedraogo, M. et al. (2016). Toward climate-smart agriculture in West Africa: a review of climate change impacts, adaptation strategies and policy developments for the livestock, fishery and crop production sectors. Agric and Food Secur 5, 26 (2016). |
APA Style
Ahmed, S. (2026). Recurrent Occurrences of Climate Change Induced Drought in Ethiopia. Advances, 7(1), 8-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12
ACS Style
Ahmed, S. Recurrent Occurrences of Climate Change Induced Drought in Ethiopia. Advances. 2026, 7(1), 8-23. doi: 10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12
AMA Style
Ahmed S. Recurrent Occurrences of Climate Change Induced Drought in Ethiopia. Advances. 2026;7(1):8-23. doi: 10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12
@article{10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12,
author = {Seid Ahmed},
title = {Recurrent Occurrences of Climate Change Induced Drought in Ethiopia},
journal = {Advances},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {8-23},
doi = {10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.advances.20260701.12},
abstract = {Different efforts have been made by policymakers, government, and non-government entities to reduce and mitigate the impact of drought in most rural parts of Ethiopia. Therefore, this review intends to assess and analyze the gaps that need to be addressed in the design and implementation of drought adaptation and mitigation social policies. Thus, by employing systematic review methods, the review process maps the thematic focus of this study through scoping review techniques to identify, collate, and systematically synthesize, discuss, and analyze existing literature. The findings reveal that the continued recurrent occurrence of drought involves a wide range of integrated factors and has significant impacts on the economic, social, and environmental well-being of rural communities. This results in severe vulnerability of rural people to the effects of recurrent drought, which is mainly caused by multiple factors and, in turn, affects nearly 80% of the agricultural-based livelihood systems of rural populations, including crop losses, reduced crop yields, and livestock production. This situation is closely associated with the ineffectiveness of national drought adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies that have been implemented over the last few decades under national social protection schemes. However, the broad nature and interconnectedness of El-Niño-induced drought require coordinated efforts among public and private sectors to ensure the effectiveness of policies at the ground level. Indeed, this review study aims to bring new insights and to offer directive input and recommendations for policymakers, development practitioners, and future researchers in formulating community-driven adaptive strategies and providing evidence to strengthen drought response mechanisms in rural communities.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Recurrent Occurrences of Climate Change Induced Drought in Ethiopia AU - Seid Ahmed Y1 - 2026/06/04 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12 DO - 10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12 T2 - Advances JF - Advances JO - Advances SP - 8 EP - 23 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2994-7200 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.advances.20260701.12 AB - Different efforts have been made by policymakers, government, and non-government entities to reduce and mitigate the impact of drought in most rural parts of Ethiopia. Therefore, this review intends to assess and analyze the gaps that need to be addressed in the design and implementation of drought adaptation and mitigation social policies. Thus, by employing systematic review methods, the review process maps the thematic focus of this study through scoping review techniques to identify, collate, and systematically synthesize, discuss, and analyze existing literature. The findings reveal that the continued recurrent occurrence of drought involves a wide range of integrated factors and has significant impacts on the economic, social, and environmental well-being of rural communities. This results in severe vulnerability of rural people to the effects of recurrent drought, which is mainly caused by multiple factors and, in turn, affects nearly 80% of the agricultural-based livelihood systems of rural populations, including crop losses, reduced crop yields, and livestock production. This situation is closely associated with the ineffectiveness of national drought adaptation and mitigation policies and strategies that have been implemented over the last few decades under national social protection schemes. However, the broad nature and interconnectedness of El-Niño-induced drought require coordinated efforts among public and private sectors to ensure the effectiveness of policies at the ground level. Indeed, this review study aims to bring new insights and to offer directive input and recommendations for policymakers, development practitioners, and future researchers in formulating community-driven adaptive strategies and providing evidence to strengthen drought response mechanisms in rural communities. VL - 7 IS - 1 ER -